December has ended, and the year has come to a close. December was packed full, and, honestly, it took a long time to complete. There was some making that happened, but it wasn’t incredibly exciting. Sitting down to write my goals for the new year was a bit melancholy and challenging. It will be interesting to sit down and write my review of 2023.
Finished objects:
Self-drafted ribbed hat for the Husband. I knit this using Big Sky worsted in gray. I used the same method as the one for Feebs, just knit bigger.
Tundra hat for Feeb’s teacher. This is a replica of the one I knit for Feebs.
Self-drafted garter and rib scarf for Feebs. I knit this using the PRU yarn from Stephen & Penelope paired with Heathered Farms fingering weight. (I hate knitting scarfs, but that is what my girl asked for, so you know I said yes.)
Three charity knits using scrap yarn. One was the Harvest Crown hat by Jodi Brown, and two used the numbers from it, but were only striped, not slipped.
Works in Progress:
Unisock
Shatar Vest
Home Camisole
Knitting my memories
Goals for next month:
Cast on the Zipper Sweater for dad
Find a vest pattern
Look for a button-up jammie pattern
Rip out any unloved projects
Update Ravelry queue
Cast on something delicious
I didn’t realize how much I knitted this month until I sat down to write this. Holy crap, I finished a lot. I didn’t do an NYE cast-on this year because I was busy finishing a last-minute charity hat. I had five boxes left on my Knitting Bingo card, and I really wanted to check one more off before midnight. I am happy to report that I made it. There will be a separate post about my Bingo cards, so I won’t wax philosophical about it here. I am going to swatch for the Father’s sweater before I see him this week. Then, I am going to measure him so that I can be 100% sure that this sweater fits him. It really breaks my heart that I put all of that work (and pain) into Harris, and it didn’t fit him. I really want to knit him something that he will be happy with. I didn’t even bother trying to figure out sewing this month. I knew it wasn’t going to happen, so I didn’t stress myself out. I am working out how to change that in the new year.
The month was really full. We started off just getting back from our trip, which was its own chaos. I had to hustle at the end of November to get Feebs’s advent calendar done and hung up by the 1st. The first weekend in December was fairly chill and mostly centered around Feebs getting her homework caught up. The following week was my infusion appointment, which was just as fun as always. They let the Mother come in and stay with me, and that surprised us both. It wasn’t terribly entertaining, but I think it made her feel better to be there. That weekend was pretty low-key. The following weekend was supposed to be spent with the FH crew for parent’s night out, then Saturday with Sister #2, and then with Mr. N on Sunday. Only the Parent’s night out ended up happening. Sister #2 and Mr. N got sick, so we had to reschedule. A strange coincidence happened, though. The Husband didn’t get the invitation to his uncle’s Christmas party until two days before, but with Sister #2 cancelling, we were able to go. We haven’t seen that side of the family since before Covid, so that was a really nice catchup. The following weekend was full of action and adventure. I did the big chop and cut fourteen inches of hair. I went from lower back length to chin length. I can’t say that I love my new haircut, but I did love symbolically cutting off the last three years. The years were incredibly challenging and often painful. It was so cathartic to cut them off. I am currently on the fence about whether I will donate the ponytail or I will have a cleansing ceremony and burn it. I hate to waste hair that someone could use, but I am honestly leaning towards burning it. No one needs that kind of energy when they are already struggling with their own issues. So that will be TBD. Feebs also cut her hair into a darling little bob. We did that in the morning, and then we went to the family Christmas party at the Brother’s house. I haven’t been to one since before Covid. It felt a little uncomfortable at first, but I eased up as the evening progressed. Sister #1 and I cleared up some issues that we had surrounding the Mother’s accident in September, and I realized that I owed her a big apology and explanation. I think everything is worked out now (I really hope it is). I got to spend time with the cousins and sibs. Feebs got to play with the little cousins. It is always so great to see everyone and see how all of the kids are becoming adults. It is very bittersweet. The Husband was sick and didn’t come, so I drove Feebs and the Mother up. We ended up leaving early since my social battery was starting to drain. But all in all, it was a great night. The next day was all about recovery and preparation for Christmas Day. Since the Husband was sick that negated us from seeing his family. We had a Zoom call with his dad’s family and had a raincheck with this mom’s side. The Mother came over on Christmas and had takeout dinner and chill time with us. It was a very relaxing day. Feebs got to play with her new things and liked not having to get out of her jams all day. I had to go to work the next day and be there all week. Work was quiet, which was very nice. Friday night we got the house ready for the O’s to spend the weekend and New Year’s Eve with us. They arrived Saturday afternoon. We agreed that we would only get gifts for the kids. I respected that and instead bought us all matching red onesies with hoods as a New Year’s Eve gift. It was absolutely epic, and everyone loved them. The girls got kitty print matching onesies. The rest of Saturday we spent lounging around in our jams, and the Husband made his famous lasanga. It was delicious. We made sure the girls were in bed at a decent hour and we didn’t make it horribly late either before J and I were starting to fade. Sunday morning, we lounged around and relaxed. We went for a walk and had snack lunch. We got gussied up in the afternoon to go to Fleming’s for dinner. It was, of course, amazing. We even remembered to take pictures this year, which was a nice surprise. We made it all the way to midnight and the new year. We clinked glasses and gave kisses and said farewell to the old year.
This month held a lot of change in it, and I am really glad that I made the choices that I did. I have posted my 2024 goals and am looking forward to what the year brings. I look forward to the making and the plans and the changes that are ahead. We survived the holidays and don’t have to think about them for another 10 months. I have yet to put the Christmas stuff away, but it is on my short list of things to get done this week. Now the Winter Solstice has passed and the days will start to lengthen. I am cautiously excited for the new year, and Spring will be just around the corner.
Loves,
M
Mrs. Collins Makes Stuff 